Southwest Michigan First
Southwest Michigan First is a privately funded economic development organization established in 1999, dedicated to fostering economic growth throughout the eight counties of Southwest Michigan. Its mission centers on job creation across various industries, guided by the belief that employment is a powerful catalyst for change. The organization employs a distinctive approach that blends philanthropy and capitalism, earning recognition for its innovative strategies in economic development on an international scale. Southwest Michigan First actively connects community capital to address the needs and aspirations of businesses and individuals, focusing on company growth, enhancing government and education alignment, and developing talent. The organization also emphasizes the acceleration of vibrant communities and the communication of regional advantages, covering a range of specialties including economic development, venture capitalism, recruitment, life sciences, manufacturing, commercial real estate, and leadership development.
Axonia Medical is a privately owned-company located in Kalamazoo MI, founded by the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Douglas H. Smith, The Robert A. Groff Endowed Professor and Vice Chairman for Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Harry C. Ledebur, Fmr. Executive in Residence at Southwest Michigan Life Science Venture Fund. Axonia Medical is pioneering a revolutionary and proprietary approach to repair and restore damaged peripheral or central nervous systems using tissue-engineered nerve grafts (TENGs). By recapitulating the anatomy of the nervous system, TENGs are expected to bridge lost nervous tissue and jump-start regenerative mechanisms to achieve levels of functional recovery not possible with current technologies. As a result, TENGs may not only change the way nervous system injuries are treated, but also clinical expectations for restoration or recovery of sensory, motor and/or cognitive deficits
Monteris Medical develops and markets advanced medical devices for minimally invasive neurosurgery, focusing on the treatment of brain diseases. Their flagship product, the NeuroBlate System, utilizes MRI-guided laser thermotherapy for the precise ablation of pathological brain lesions, including both primary and metastatic tumors. This innovative system allows neurosurgeons to deliver focused laser energy directly to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, offering real-time control and visualization during procedures. Monteris Medical also provides stereotactic anchoring devices for accurate image-guided trajectory alignment and AtamA stabilization systems for MR-based procedures requiring head fixation. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, with additional offices in Minneapolis and Winnipeg, the company distributes its products through sales representatives to neurosurgeons across the United States. Formerly known as AutoLITT, Monteris Medical has established itself as a leader in the development of technologies aimed at improving the treatment of brain cancer.
Axonia Medical is a privately owned-company located in Kalamazoo MI, founded by the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Douglas H. Smith, The Robert A. Groff Endowed Professor and Vice Chairman for Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Harry C. Ledebur, Fmr. Executive in Residence at Southwest Michigan Life Science Venture Fund. Axonia Medical is pioneering a revolutionary and proprietary approach to repair and restore damaged peripheral or central nervous systems using tissue-engineered nerve grafts (TENGs). By recapitulating the anatomy of the nervous system, TENGs are expected to bridge lost nervous tissue and jump-start regenerative mechanisms to achieve levels of functional recovery not possible with current technologies. As a result, TENGs may not only change the way nervous system injuries are treated, but also clinical expectations for restoration or recovery of sensory, motor and/or cognitive deficits
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